Time to give Kernan's Kudos to local college football players

Friday

Dec 14, 2012 at 12:01 AMDec 14, 2012 at 11:22 PM

It's time to recognize some of our area's best college football players.

SEAN KERNANSTAFF WRITER

From coast to coast, our local college football players produced for universities and colleges this season.The national awards have been handed out, and bowl season is upon us. But before we turn our attention to the bowls, let's give some Kernan's Kudos to the best of our local prep products who have gone off to college and given us something to cheer about.So here are my picks for some of the best local high school grads who are getting the job done on gridirons from Daytona Beach to Los Angeles and points between:

FBS Player of the YearMike GillisleeFloridaMike Gillislee went from being a role player in his first three seasons with the Gators to being to the go-to guy in his senior year.And the results were astounding: The 5-foot-11, 209-pound tailback became the first Gator in eight years to rush for more than 1,000 yards, and he was named All-Southeastern Conference First Team by The Associated Press and conference coaches. He has 1,104 yards and leads the Gators with 11 TDs, all but one rushing, heading into the Sugar Bowl against Louisville on Jan 2.The DeLand High product spoke softly, but put up big numbers. Five times he ran for more than 100 yards in a game, including huge winning efforts against LSU and Florida State.Gillislee accounted for both UF touchdowns and a career-high 146 yards in a 14-6 triumph over the Tigers. He had 140 yards and two TDs, including the crucial fourth-quarter, go-ahead score in a 37-26 road victory against the Seminoles.Gators coach Will Muschamp admitted last offseason that he should have given the ball more to Gillislee in 2011. The UF coach corrected his mistake, because Gillislee was the centerpiece in the Gators' ball-control offense this season.

FBS Freshman of the YearLeonard WilliamsSouthern CalAnyone who saw Leonard Williams dominate on the gridiron for Mainland knew he'd be a very good college football player. But, honestly, ask yourself if you thought he'd be Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year good.Didn't think so.Williams got his chance to start for the Trojans before the midway point of the season, and he never looked back. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive tackle had 50 tackles, including 13 for loss and 7[1/2] sacks. He also was credited with a fumble recovery, an interception and three blocked passes.The Pac-12 also named Williams an all-conference honorable mention, and Fox Sports selected him as a freshman All-American.Williams has put himself on the big stage, and he's a star in the making.

FCS Player of the YearJacolby WashingtonIndiana StateWashington was a one-man wrecking crew for the Sycamores. The senior linebacker out of Trinity Christian had 110 tackles, including 42 unassisted, eight for loss and two sacks.That all translated to another All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team selection for the 6-foot-1, 235-pound defender who also secured an identical spot when 2010 and 2011 honors were announced.Washington averaged 10 tackles per game, which ranked third in the MVC and 23rd in FCS. His .73 tackle-for-loss per game was 17th in the conference. He had a season-high 14 tackles against Drake.The only question Washington left unanswered was this: What's a guy have to do to get on the first team in the MVC?

Junior College Player of the YearBreon AllenSnow CollegeWhen talking about players who improved their recruiting stock during the season, the conversation begins with Snow sophomore Breon Allen.The 5-foot-8, 180-pound running back out of Warner Christian led the nation with 1,632 yards and 20 touchdowns on 246 carries. He led the Badgers to the Western States Football League championship and was rewarded with the conference's offensive player of the year honor, a National Junior College Athletic Association First Team All-America selection and a finalist spot for NJCAA Player of the Year.Allen leaves Snow as its all-time rushing leader (2,380 yards) and season record holder for rushing yards and TDs.Snow finished 11-1 and ranked third in the country after beating ASA College (Brooklyn, N.Y,) 47-21 in the inaugural Carrier Dome Bowl in Syracuse.Allen told The News-Journal this week that Boise State, Memphis, Oregon State, Utah and Utah State are in his top five of schools that have offered him scholarships. He clearly has better options now than he did two years ago.

Small College Co-Players of the YearRob BrownUnion (Ky.)The 5-foot-8, 155-pound senior tailback led the Bulldogs in a bunch of categories: rushing yards (682), touchdowns (7), all-purpose yards (951) and longest kickoff return (95). The Atlantic High product made the All-Mid-South Conference East Division First Team.

Kyle MowenTrinity International (Ill.)The 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior linebacker led the Trojans with 78 tackles, including 7[1/2] for loss and four sacks, after moving to the weak side position this season. The Father Lopez product was a Mid-States Football Association honorable mention selection.

And a few more …NFL Prospect of the Year: Purdue junior cornerback Ricardo Allen. The former Mainland standout may have a decision to make in terms of leaving early for the league. He's been projected as high as the second round if he decides to enter the 2013 NFL Draft. Mr. Versatility: Southwestern College cornerback Rashad Greene (four interceptions, 18 tackles in six games) didn't play on the defensive side of the ball until near midseason. Before that the Warner Christian product was catching passes (17 for 222 yards and 1 TD) and returning kicks (six for 223 yards) for the junior college in Chula Vista, Calif.Comeback Player of the Year: DeLand High product Shontrelle Johnson returned to the gridiron for Iowa State after sustaining a career-threatening neck injury last season. The junior running back led the Cyclones with 504 yards on 115 carries.HBCU Player of the Year: Bethune-Cookman safety D.J. Howard made a bunch of big plays for the MEAC champion Wildcats. The Spruce Creek product was a tremendous leader for B-CU's tough defense and put up credible stats: 59 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. The senior has petitioned the NCAA for a sixth year because of previous season-ending injuries.